The Strange Case of the Scottish Independence Referendum. Some Elements of Comparison between the Scottish and Catalan Cases

Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique

卷:20

关键词: Scotland;    Catalonia;    independence referendum;    self-determination;   

DOI  :  10.4000/rfcb.384

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The Scottish independence referendum of 18 September 2014 was rather unique from an international perspective, as a comparison between the cases of Scotland and Catalonia clearly reveals. Contrary to its Catalan equivalent, the Scottish referendum was perfectly legal and accepted by London, though London could have blocked it by legal and constitutional means. Two reasons explain this. First, Scotland is seen as having a right to self-determination as one of the nations of the multinational UK (whereas Catalonia is not considered as a nation by Madrid). Secondly, the British political class believes in the political doctrine of the mandate, according to which, by winning a total majority of seats in the 2011 Scottish Parliament elections, the SNP won a mandate to organise an independence referendum. This led to a political deal (known as the Edinburgh Agreement) between Edinburgh and London. By contrast, the relations between Catalonia and the central Spanish institutions are governed by constitutional conflict.

【 授权许可】

Unknown